Frozen Royalty: Kings Have A Real Chance To Win Playoff Series Against Canucks

The NHL 2012 Playoffs have arrived and, miraculously, the LA Kings are a part of them. While most of the media is predicting a Canucks win, our pal Gann Matsuda is saying the Kings can get it done. While we respectfully disagree, we like the optimism. Here’s Gann’s latest. Take a read!

EL SEGUNDO, CA — As they have been in each of the two previous seasons, the Los Angeles Kings are heavy underdogs in their first round playoff series, this time, against the Vancouver Canucks, starting tonight at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Canucks earned the best record in the National Hockey League, winning the President’s Trophy for the second consecutive season, while the Kings brought up the rear among Western Conference playoff teams as the eighth seed.

“We know what we’re up against,” said Kings head coach Darryl Sutter. “Say what you want, the Vancouver Canucks have won more games in the last year and a half, counting playoffs, than any team in the National Hockey League. That’s a task in itself.”

“They’re good players, and they have a good team,” said Kings center Anze Kopitar. “They won the President’s Trophy again, and we’re going to have to be ready for them.”

If having the best record in the NHL this season wasn’t enough, something else many of the pundits have pointed to is the fact that the Canucks ended the season ranked fifth in the league in goals scored, while the Kings ranked 29th in the thirty-team NHL.

Read the rest here.

If you haven’t caught up with the latest stories, by Gann, check out:

Credit Goes To Dean Lombardi, Darryl Sutter For Los Angeles Kings Coming From Behind To Make Playoffs. Read it here.

Los Angeles Kings’ Brad Richardson Is Trying To Make The Most Of His Opportunity. Read it here.